averages versus exceptions

A biology professor once joked "All bears walk in single file, at least the one I saw did." It means nothing that one particular individual was an exception to the rule. Not all smokers get lung cancer and some non-smokers do get lung cancer. However, it is well-established that smoking increases the RATE of lung cancer. You might be able to walk across an Interstate highway with your eyes closed and survive, but that doesn't prove that there is no connection with such activity and health risk. Exceptions and averages are two very different things. Many many studies have shown a connection between breastfeeding and inproved average health risks of both mother and child. Many of these are discussed at that wonderful site www.007b.com